Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Business: Romford

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to encourage start-ups and boost company growth in Romford.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: We are supporting small businesses in many ways and are committed to making sure the UK is the best place in Europe to start and grow a business. Businesses in Romford are benefitting from Government support.68 Start Up Loans, worth £362,000, have been issued across Romford. And 34 businesses have secured loans worth £3.14 million under the Enterprise Finance Guarantee scheme.Through the South East Growth Deal the Government is investing £488 million over six years (2015-2021) to projects which will support economic growth across Essex, including in Romford. And across Romford, six ambitious high growth businesses are benefitting from the advice and support provided by the Business Growth Service.

New Businesses: Young People

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to support more programmes or competitions for university students and recent graduates to encourage them to embrace entrepreneurship.

Baroness Evans of Bowes Park: This Government fully supports the promotion of entrepreneurship in higher education. In 2013/14, the Higher Education – Business and Community Interaction survey found that there were over 4,600 new graduate start-ups, up from 2,357 in 2009/10.The Government is championing closer collaboration between universities and business through the National Centre for Universities and Business which is supported by HEFCE, the Research Councils and Innovate UK. Higher Education Innovation Funding, delivered by HEFCE, also supports university collaboration with industry, the commercialisation of research, and promotes entrepreneurship, enterprise education and broader knowledge exchange.

Recall of Unsafe Products Review

Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town: To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they anticipate publication of the results of the review of the United Kingdom's system for the recall of unsafe products chaired by Lynn Faulds Wood.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: The Review of UK product recalls chaired by Lynn Faulds Wood is due to be published soon.

Yemen: Military Intervention

Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their policy regarding the licensing of arms, including British-made military aeroplanes, to the Saudi Arabian-led coalition which is conducting airstrikes in Yemen.

Lord Maude of Horsham: All licence applications are rigorously assessed on a case by case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Export Licensing Criteria. A licence would not be granted if to do so would be a breach of the Criteria.

Ministry of Justice

Civil Proceedings: Finance

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much income was generated by the Commercial Court in each of the last 10 years, and what were the operating costs for that Court in each year.

Baroness Evans of Bowes Park: HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) does not analyse the income or cost of the Commercial Court in this way. Such information could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to publish on the Legal Aid Agency website or legislation.gov.uk a consolidated version of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 and related regulations.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: The revised version of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 is due to be published and available by the end of 2015.

Home Office

Surveillance: Complaints

Lord Marks of Henley-on-Thames: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many (1) complaints, and (2) claims, were submitted to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal in each year from 2010 to 2014 inclusive.

Lord Marks of Henley-on-Thames: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the average processing time taken for cases in the Investigatory Powers Tribunal from the time a complaint or claim was submitted to the announcement of a ruling in each year from 2010 to 2014 inclusive.

Lord Bates: The numbers of new cases received by the independent Investigatory Powers Tribunal each year are published on the Tribunal’s website at: http://www.ipt-uk.com/section.aspx?pageid=5 .The numbers of complaints and claims for the years 2010 to 2014 are as follows.YearHuman Rights ClaimsComplaintsBothTotal20104940751642011464688180201237527916820135867802052014586097215The Investigatory Powers Tribunal does not collate the information about the average length of time from a complaint or claim being submitted to the announcement of a ruling. The cases received by the Investigatory Powers Tribunal vary in scope and complexity. Each case is considered on its own merits and receives appropriate legal scrutiny.

Crimes against Humanity: Sri Lanka

Lord Naseby: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the UN OISL report published in September, what action they intend to take to bring to justice those British citizens residing in the United Kingdom who are alleged to have committed war crimes or crimes against humanity whilst fighting for the Tamil Tigers.

Lord Bates: The investigation and prosecution of all criminal offences, including whether an offence has been committed, is an operational matter for the police and Crown Prosecution Service.

Deportation

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what safeguards are in place to ensure and monitor the security and wellbeing of individuals deported from the United Kingdom to potentially dangerous home countries.

Lord Bates: The Home Office does not routinely monitor the treatment of individuals once removed from the UK as they have been found not to need protection and therefore that they are not at real risk of harm. Each case is considered on its individual merits including, where relevant, the reasonableness of internal relocation.Returns are only undertaken when the Home Office and courts deem it is safe to do so.

Private Rented Housing: Immigrants

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty’s Government why the Right to Rent provision was included in the Immigration Bill before the report from the trial in the West Midlands had been completed.

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they will give to the advice of bodies that have expressed concerns about the Right to Rent provision of the Immigration Bill.

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they will give to the concerns of landlords raised in the Home Office's recent review of Right to Rent that the scheme has the potential for discrimination.

Lord Bates: The Government has always been clear that the Right to Rent scheme would be rolled out across the country after phase one in Birmingham, Walsall, Sandwell, Dudley and Wolverhampton. The Prime Minister committed to do so in May this year. Home Office Science has carried out an evaluation of phase one. The findings of the evaluation have now been published and are informing implementation of the roll out of the scheme.The evaluation was overseen by an expert panel consisting of representatives from landlords and letting agents associations, housing charities, local authorities and the Equality and Human Rights Commission, to enable concerns about the operation of the scheme to be taken into account.The Home Office evaluation reported on mystery shopping research, conducted by independent contractors. This found that there were no major differences in prospective tenants’ access to accommodation between the Right to Rent phase one area and comparator areas, where the scheme was not running.

Police: Counter-terrorism

Lord West of Spithead: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many police Counter Terrorism Security Advisers were employed in England and Wales in (1) April 2010, and (2) April 2015.

Lord Bates: Advice and guidance on protective security and preparedness to terrorist threats is provided by specialist Counter-Terrorism Security Advisors (CTSAs) who operate in every police region.The number of CTSAs in post in England and Wales in April 2010 was 191. The number in post in England and Wales in April 2015 was 146 (this figure includes 4 Counter Terrorism Awareness Advisers dedicated towards the provision of CT awareness advice).Government aims to have 171 staff in post by the end of 2016/17 (145 CTSAs and 26 CTAAs). These planned changes to resource are for the effective and efficient delivery of future advice and guidance, whilst ensuring they maintain their fundamental role as part of wider police capabilities to safeguard the security of the public.

EU Immigration

Lord Marlesford: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have considered seeking UN authority to establish safe holding areas outside the EU, to which refugees seeking to enter the EU could be transferred.

Lord Bates: The current migration crisis requires a global response. This may necessitate radical measures to address the unprecedented situation. We regularly engage with EU and multilateral partners, including the UN on a wide range of migration issues in order to find an effective and sustainable solution. Ideas about establishing safe centres outside the EU are at an early stage of development and we will consult appropriate organisations as discussions on these with EU and other partners progress.

Visas: Overseas Students

Lord Stevens of Kirkwhelpington: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans Ofqual has to allow visas to be obtained for foreign students from countries in the emerging markets wishing to train for a professional pilot’s licence in the United Kingdom.

Lord Bates: The Home Office is responsible for UK visa policy.Flight training organisations can teach courses lasting up to six months to international students, under the short-term study visa route.Alternatively, they may use the Tier 4 visa route where the course lasts longer than six months and they hold a Tier 4 sponsor licence. To qualify for a Tier 4 sponsor licence, an institution must have a track record of teaching UK or EEA students, and be teaching courses which meet Tier 4 requirements. To meet Tier 4 requirements, a course must lead to an approved qualification, as defined in the Tier 4 Guidance for Sponsors.

Refugees: Syria

Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to the recent statement of the UNHCR that, under a 2003 United Kingdom–Cyprus memorandum, the United Kingdom is responsible for resettling Syrian refugees who arrive at a United Kingdom military base in Cyprus.

Lord Bates: Those migrants who seek asylum will have their claims considered by the Cypriot authorities on behalf of the Sovereign Base Authorities (SBA). There is no obligation to allow those recognised as refugees to take up residence in the UK.

HM Treasury

Small Businesses: Inheritance Tax

Lord Naseby: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will publish annually a list of Alternative Investment Market companies that qualify for Inheritance Tax relief.

Lord O'Neill of Gatley: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) do not have a list of Alternative Investment Market companies that qualify for Business Property Relief.The claim to the relief will depend on the circumstances of each case. Shares in a company might no longer qualify for Business Property Relief if the company went into liquidation or moved to a full listing on the UK Stock Exchange after publication. Any information provided by HMRC about a company may become out of date quickly raising the risk that relief is claimed incorrectly.

Economic Growth

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the reasons for the slowing of economic growth in Q3.

Lord O'Neill of Gatley: The Government's economic plan is working. In Q3 2015, the economy grew 0.5 per cent – the 11th consecutive quarter of quarter-on-quarter growth – and 2.3 per cent in the year to Q3 2015. The economy is now 12.4 per cent larger than at the start of the 2010. The UK is forecast by the OECD to be the joint fastest growing economy in the G7 in 2015.

EU Budget

Lord Hoyle: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will list the balance of United Kingdom payments to and receipts from the European Union for each of the last 10 years.

Lord O'Neill of Gatley: The United Kingdom’s contribution to the EU budget, net of rebate and total receipts, for the last 10 years is as follows:YearGross contributions post rebateTotal public and private receiptsNet contributionNet contribution€bn€bn€bn£bn200512.168.673.492.46200612.388.294.092.80200713.437.426.014.03200810.117.312.802.06200910.116.253.863.68201014.666.757.917.09201113.836.577.266.21201216.186.939.247.82201317.076.3110.768.78201414.076.987.095.91 These figures are taken from the EU’s Financial Report 2014, where comprehensive figures for the UK’s contributions and receipts, as well as those for all other Member States, for all years from 2000-2014 are available. The latest version of this report can be accessed at the European Commission’s website.[1][1] http://ec.europa.eu/budget/financialreport/2014/foreword/index_en.html

World War I: Debts

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much they owe the government of the United States for activities in the First World War; what are the repayment arrangements; and when the repayments will be completed.

Lord O'Neill of Gatley: The United Kingdom owed around £850 million to the United States for activities in the First World War. However, in 1931 the United States proposed a temporary moratorium on all War debts, to allow for negotiations on debt repayment. Following negotiations, no satisfactory agreement was reached and as such, repayments were cancelled between the United Kingdom and United States. The last repayment from the United Kingdom to the United States for debt from the First World War was made in the financial year 1932-33.

Department for Energy and Climate Change

Plutonium

Lord West of Spithead: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the size of the present stockpile of plutonium held in the United Kingdom.

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: Data on the amount of civil plutonium in the UK are published each year by the Office for Nuclear Regulation. As of 31 December 2014 there was 126.3 tonnes. Detailed information can be found at http://www.onr.org.uk/safeguards/civilplut14.htm.Data on the amount of civilian plutonium as of 31 December 2015 will be published in the spring 2016.



Annual civil plutonium & uranium figs as 31.12.14
(PDF Document, 91.41 KB)

Plutonium

Lord West of Spithead: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the current status of the plutonium disposal programme.

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) are in the process of submitting advice to support DECC in its considerations. This, together with other sources of information and evidence, will enable DECC to consider options for the way forward. A decision is expected to be made by ministers on how to proceed during 2015/16. Only when the Government is confident that its preferred option could be implemented safely and securely, in way that is affordable, deliverable, and offers value for money, will it be in a position to proceed.

Plutonium

Lord West of Spithead: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the security implications of the various options for disposal of plutonium.

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: We expect the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) to submit a report to DECC to support us in our considerations on the policy options in due course. Informed by the advice from NDA, ministers will then make an assessment of the options, and decide on the appropriate next steps. Only when the Government is confident that its preferred option could be implemented safely and securely, in way that is affordable, deliverable, and offers value for money, will it be in a position to proceed.

Housing: Insulation

Lord Greaves: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the difficulties associated with the insulation of external walls of traditional terraced housing and other older properties with solid walls rather than cavity walls, and whether they are supporting, or will support, research into practical solutions for insulating such walls.

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: The Government has a number of ongoing projects to investigate issues surrounding solid wall insulation, including monitoring current installation practices (DECC), modelling the risks of unintended moisture-related problems (DCLG and DECC), preparing practical guidance for industry to reduce the risks of such problems (DECC) and a wider high-level study of solid wall insulation issues (BIS – the Hansford report, to be published on 12 November).The Government recognises that it is important that we do more and that is why we have commissioned Dr Peter Bonfield to undertake an Independent Review into Consumer Advice, Protection, Standards and Enforcement for both energy efficiency and renewable energy. The Review is due to report in March 2016 and represents a real opportunity to put energy efficiency on a more consumer-focussed and sustainable long-term path for the future.

Cabinet Office

Electoral Register

Lord Greaves: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their latest estimate of the number of people registered as parliamentary electors in more than one constituency in the United Kingdom; and what proportion of those are so registered (1) because they are students, (2) because they occupy more than one home, (3) because they work away from their main residence, and (4) for other reasons.

Lord Bridges of Headley: It is not possible to provide an estimate of the number of people registered as parliamentary electors in more than one constituency as this information is not held centrally.